Glaucoma research still hasn't identified which medical or surgical treatment is best able to prevent visual disability and improve patient-reported outcomes. Not even a recent large-scale review commissioned by the US Preventive Task Force (USPSTF).

In the report, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University researchers conclude that there's inadequate evidence to directly compare the effectiveness of medical, surgical or laser treatments. Outcomes of glaucoma treatment are inadequately standardized. Furthermore, there is very little research linking treatment and prevention of optic nerve structural damage and visual field loss. The task force also said it couldn't determine whether glaucoma screening for adults without previous vision problems prevents blindness or enhances long-term health.